Augusta, GA – Mr. John William Sidener, 83, beloved husband of Cynthia Brix Sidener, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at Trinity Hospital.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Platt’s Crawford Ave Chapel with Chaplain Jason Davis officiating. Interment to follow in Westover Memorial Park
Mr. Sidener, affectionately known as Billy, J.W., Big John, Pop or Papa John, was born in Augusta to the late Earl Samuel and Maud Davis Sidener. He lived in Augusta his whole life and worked for the City of Augusta. John was a member of Crawford Avenue Baptist Church. He played softball his entire life and was a member of the Senior Softball League of Augusta until he was in his late 70’s. John enjoyed traveling to tournaments out of town and was awarded a gold and silver medal with his team when they competed in the Georgia Games. He retired after 33 years and is a long standing member of the Local 150 Plumbers and Steamfitters. He also served in the National Guard at Fort Stewart in 1948. John was an avid fisherman and looked forward to the trips he and his wife took to Santee Cooper, SC. He loved being out on the water fishing and teaching his sons how to not let the big one get away. John enjoyed traveling the country discovering new places with his wife and also visiting family. He loved his Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs. John’s gentle spirit, sense of humor, and kind heart will be missed by all.
In addition to his wife, John is survived by his sons, Bill Sidener, Jr. (Linda), Dennis Sidener, Lee Sidener (Tina); his step-son, Mike McNealy; his step-daughters, Cynthia Smith (Fred), and Tamera Toogood Middleton (Steve); his brother, Charles Sidener (Elvina); his sisters, Jimmie Wheatley, and Betty Bush; his nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his sister, Catherine Allred.
Pallbearers will be Steve Middleton, Steve Wheatley, Bobby Poole, C.W. Price, Richard Balkcum, and Tommy Sidener.
The family has asked for memorials to be made to the Clark Hill Fish for Life Foundation, P.O. Box 492, Evans, GA, 30809 so that other young people can be exposed to the joy of fishing.